Lives of Others - Das Leben der Anderen

"The Lives of Others" is one of the most interesting movies about communism that I have seen in a while; it shows, as few others have, how communism suffocates human imagination.not just stifles political dissent.

A spy - Captain Wiesler - is given the task of eavesdropping on a well known playwrighter, not for political reasons, but because a communist boss is jealous of the man and wants his girlfriend for himself. As the spy begins listening in, he begins to question the values of his society and the integrity of the orders he receives. Up to that point, Wiesler dutifully obeyed without question. But as the spy continues to experience the world of the playwright, he starts to live the subject's life vicariously... so the enemy ironically becomes the friend. The experience helps Captain Wiesler grow in humanity so he ultimately makes the decision to run interference to save the playwright's life.